Let's Play Board Games 🎲 Early access open!

I'll be opening up the Beta version of Let's Play Board Games next week to a limited number of users, so I wanted to share a little bit about why I started building it in the first place and what are the core values driving the app. 🧵

@AtikinGames @d_b_games @Dice_and_Dragon @BoardGameStiles @PunchboardUK @Oceans4Ransom @CheapSheepNZ @GeektopiaGames @bags4dice @Outrunbeargame @JonTexMo @Radical8Games @ProjectKYLA @N20Games @adam_die_rollin @greengambitgame @Bearfishpie On the other hand I’m struggling a bit with keeping up with social media. I think it’s important, but it’s just something that feels like a chore to me. I’ll need to figure out what to do about that.

@AtikinGames @d_b_games @Dice_and_Dragon @BoardGameStiles @PunchboardUK @Oceans4Ransom @CheapSheepNZ @GeektopiaGames @bags4dice @Outrunbeargame @JonTexMo @Radical8Games @ProjectKYLA @N20Games @adam_die_rollin @greengambitgame @Bearfishpie I’ve been adding more and more features to the app. It’s exciting but I also need to start looking for more beta testers. So if anyone is interested in adding some flair to their game nights, send me a DM for early access.

It's time for a wonderous #BoardGamersLift! What have you been playing, reviewing, designing, backing? Share your news and support your fellow tabletop gamers. Don't forget to use #BoardGamersLift

@AtikinGames @DissentGames @N20Games @SpielMas @Ruined_Sky @DinnerDebates @jackson_pope @pattersonjeffa @WitchwayGames @writing_head @d_b_games Finally got a chance to start adding more features to the app. Hosts are now able to share a link to the event with their guests without having to specify guest's email. Seems like a small thing, but a lot of work had to go into it to ensure a smooth flow.

What's your #BoardGamersLift news? @DissentGames @BoardGamesApp @N20Games @SpielMas @Ruined_Sky @DinnerDebates @jackson_pope @pattersonjeffa @WitchwayGames @writing_head @d_b_games

Who's up for a lovely #BoardGamersLift? What have you been playing, reviewing, designing this week? Share your news, support your fellow board gamers and use #BoardGamersLift Check out this month's #IndieTabletopNewsletter don't forget to subscribe! atikingames.com/newsletter/aug…

@elizhargrave In the biweekly game nights (open for all) that we organized in a local community club we actually noticed the ratio being in favor of women. Something like 60-40.

2. Can we also give up on the trope that women aren’t interested in gaming? I think a lot of board game PLAYING communities are approaching 50-50 now. If yours isn’t, take a hard look at why not.

I’ve been thinking about whether/how to comment on Ryan Dancey’s tweet beyond what I said in the moment. For me the biggest whiplash was the impression he gave that AEG thinks women don’t make publishable games - because that clearly isn’t true in practice. 1/

@AtikinGames It is. But it’s also so much work 😅

@BoardGamesApp Well that sounds like tonnes of exciting board game news 😁 it doesn't have to be development. Also building a house must be exciting!

It's time for a #BoardGamersLift What have you been playing, sharing, reviewing, enjoying this week? Share your gaming news and support your fellow gamers. Don't forget to check out this months #TheIndieTabletopNewsletter atikingames.com/april2023

@AtikinGames Additionally, we’ve started a workshop for kids (12-18 yo) that combines board games and theater. It’s a bit of a pilot project but it’s been going great so far. So it’s nice to do board game related stuff even if I don’t have time to do more app development atm 😊

@AtikinGames Mostly life stuff (building a house, spending time with the kids), so side-projects tend to get left behind a bit 😕 But also, we’re still organizing biweekly game nights at the community center open for all and so many people come every time. It’s wonderful.

@MoreGamesPls @aireconuk Hopefully next year? 😊

@Panda8ngel @MoreGamesPls This 👆🏻

@1minboardgames Escape: The Curse of the Temple to warm up (1 or 2 games). After that maybe Lords of Waterdeep with expansion?

For tonight’s game night we’re a total of 6 and looking for something with more substance. Here are some games we’re thinking about bringing out: ⚓️ Libertalia 🐱 The Isle of Cats ⚡️ Power Grid 🍷 Viticulture This is a notoriously hard player count. What’re your 6 player go-tos?

This is too perfect 😂😭😭

@OctopusGilded Looking forward to that, so I can try it out 😊

@BoardGamesApp For now. The next prototype version though will be available on several different platforms.

@OctopusGilded Windows only? 😔

@stuffByBez @AtikinGames @adam_die_rollin @bags4dice @PaulWillcox10 @BandCgames @BoardGamesApp @brain_escape_uk @BigGirlGames1 @SenFoongLim @SisyphusFell @JonTexMo @BigBadOverlord @DinnerDebates @Dinasaidso1 @StarCptnDread If you you want to try out the prototype 👀 gildedoctopusstudios.itch.io/board-game-sea…

@OctopusGilded @AtikinGames @adam_die_rollin @bags4dice @PaulWillcox10 @BandCgames @brain_escape_uk @BigGirlGames1 @SenFoongLim @SisyphusFell @stuffByBez @JonTexMo @BigBadOverlord @DinnerDebates @Dinasaidso1 @StarCptnDread Wow, that’s impressive! 👏🏻 Tiktok seems scary to me 😅

@AtikinGames @adam_die_rollin @bags4dice @PaulWillcox10 @BandCgames @BoardGamesApp @brain_escape_uk @BigGirlGames1 @SenFoongLim @SisyphusFell @stuffByBez @JonTexMo @BigBadOverlord @DinnerDebates @Dinasaidso1 @StarCptnDread I’m almost to 1000 followers on my board game TikTok account which means I’ll soon be able to put up a link for my board game search engine.

@AtikinGames @adam_die_rollin @bags4dice @OctopusGilded @PaulWillcox10 @BandCgames @brain_escape_uk @BigGirlGames1 @SenFoongLim @SisyphusFell @stuffByBez @JonTexMo @BigBadOverlord @DinnerDebates @Dinasaidso1 @StarCptnDread It was a busy week since Let's Play Board Games app got its first users. But it's been wonderful, because I already got some actionable feedback. And it's the best feeling seeing people organize and schedule their board game nights using Let's Play Board Games 🥳

What's your #BoardGamersLift news? @adam_die_rollin @bags4dice @octopusgilded @paulwillcox10 @BandCgames @BoardGamesApp @brain_escape_uk @biggirlgames1 @SenFoongLim @SisyphusFell @stuffByBez @JonTexMo @BigBadOverlord @DinnerDebates @DinaSaidSo1 @StarCptnDread

@MadsFloe We started organizing events like this in our local community center as well this year. And I was also happy to lend out my collection. I agree that the it's the best value one can get out of the games. 🥰 twitter.com/BoardGamesApp/…

Would you consider lending out your collection for open gaming nights in your local community? I can tell you that in my case, people have taken real good care of them. They receive some wear, of course, but it’s mostly just the boxes from moving them from place to place 😊

Every Tuesday, and one Sunday each month, with the help of volunteers in the local community, we host open board game events for everyone. I lend out pretty much my entire collection of board games for this, and it’s the best value I could ever dream about getting out of it ❤️😊

@mangozoid @AtikinGames They should. But if you want people to find you, you have to give both username and server name. For example I’m @letsplayboardgames@tabletop.social (so first username then server name) - put that in the search and you should see me. Without the server people can’t find you

@BoardGamesApp @AtikinGames Fingers crossed... We're@TSM on Mastodon... But not sure if servers work together or not.

Should I be on Mastodon?

@AtikinGames @mangozoid We’re all still finding our ways around Mastodon. But it’s not that hard and it’s actually really nice. Hope it works for you too 😊

@BoardGamesApp @mangozoid Thank you for letting me know. I hadn't realised you could change servers. I'll give it a look later today 😁

@AtikinGames @mangozoid If you want, you can start on tabletop.vip and then move your account, once tabletop.social starts accepting new users again. And you can follow people from anywhere, so you can already start looking for people you know ☺️

@mangozoid Yup, sounds like I need to get an account, once I can on tabletop.social 🤞

@Palanion @moregamespls Some people seem to be joining tabletop.vip instead. You can still follow anyone from other servers. All these servers are community-ran, so with a huge influx of new users the admins/moderators might be a bit overwhelmed at the moment.

@moregamespls So, I would need to join a random public server first? That seems wrong to me.